Why Bother?

Why should any of us do anything if it has been done before? There are volumes of devotionals and Christian insights available for those who care to find them, cheap at an Thrift Shop, or specially featured as the latest and greatest in a Christian book store. You can freely download the thoughts of great Christians from multiple websites. So surely there is no need for me to write devotional thoughts too, is there?

Yet there is something in God’s economy where ‘streams’ are important, ‘rivers in the desert’, where God opens up springs of refreshing for people.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it will spring forth; will you not recognise it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

I love the fact that God doesn’t open up one particular river, or one particular type of stream. Reference to ‘rivers’ suggests to me the multi-facetted ways God can employ to speak into our hearts and lives.

Some people are deeply touched by a song or poem, while others find key Bible verses leaping out to speak to them, and others find preaching impacting them powerfully.

God can use His testimonies, His truth, His law, His love, His Spirit, His Gospel, His Anointing, fellowship with His People, His Authority and so much more to being blessing, victory and transformation into our lives.

Look at the different streams listed in Psalm 19:7-9.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

I am a servant of the Lord, with my own small world of influence and my own personal journey with the Lord to draw from. So I am one of God’s springs of living water. I am a stream for those who care to drink and be refreshed.

As a teenager I was on holidays near the ocean, waiting on God for direction. I felt directed to Isaiah 43, not knowing what it said, and verse 19, about rivers in the desert, encouraged me. I sensed God promising me that in the desert areas of my life there would be complete transformation; the desert turned into rivers instead of hot burning sand, like the desert blossoming like a rose (Isaiah 35:1).

I link that too to the text about ‘wells of salvation’.

“Therefore with joy will you draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3

Note it is not one well, but multiple wells.

God is pouring into your life from multiple sources. Make a point of tasting from God’s rivers and drinking from God’s wells.

Put your faith in Christ so God’s Salvation is released to you (Ephesians 2:8).

Use God’s authority to resist the devil (James 4:7).

Be encouraged by godly Christian fellowship (Hebrews 3:13).

And there is much more.

God has made many ways to bless you. Are you drinking from His wells and swimming in His rivers, or are you stuck in some dry place?

I encourage you to ‘get under the spout where the glory comes out’ (as the old saying goes) and get refreshed by being in a church where people love God and relate to Him with His truth and power, and by reading the Bible daily, even if you don’t think it’s doing you any good, and get around those who enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Take new ventures into Praising God, Loving others, sharing your faith, caring for the needy, learning God’s Word, and enjoying God’s presence in your life.

God has made the way and provided the rivers. Jump in and start swimming.